A Second [Clint Barton x Reader]

Soul For A Soul

Part 23
***
Natasha looked over at the couple that accompanied her on this mission. This stupid mission to save the whole universe. The one that required a sacrifice from them to bring everyone back. The thought made her sick, especially when she looked over at her two best friends. (Y/n), one of the strongest women she knew, the one who wouldn't have hesitate to jump if she didn't have to live for their unborn baby, and Clint, the man who saved her life time and time again, the one who had her six no matter what. It wasn't like she wanted to jump, but looking at them, she knew she'd gladly do it if it meant they got to be together. They deserved a happy ending.

"No stop it. Stop acting like you're going to do it." Natasha hears you raise your voice a bit. She glances over again, watching Clint take your hands and kiss them. He was talking to you in a soft voice, one that she couldn't hear. She would have jumped now while the pair was distracted with each other, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. Not without saying goodbye. The hardest part was going to be getting them to accept it.

"No! Clint stop it! What have you done?!"

Natasha whipped around, fearing the worse. That she was going to see Clint hurling himself to the cliffs edge. But instead, she caught the tail end of you disappearing and Clint on his knees.

"What did you do?" She asks, slowly making her way over to her best friend. He was staring at the ground.

"I sent (y/n) back. We both know she can't be the one to do it. There's no reason that she needs to be here suffering through all of this." He says, getting off the ground and turning to face Natasha now.

"Well what if I wanted to tell her goodbye first before you did that." She raises a brow at him, a look that Clint copies.

"What makes you think you won't have the rest of your life to tell her stuff like that?" He challenges, making Natasha laugh.

"Oh come on, Clint. You can't be serious. You honestly think between the two of us, I'm going to be the one going back? There isn't a decision to be made here." Of course she knew Clint thought he was going to be the one to jump. Clint was always the one to make the reckless selfless sacrifices.

"Of course there is." He says back firmly. "What makes you think you're the one who gets a free ride to the bottom of a 500 foot cliff?" He throws back, anger in his voice. He was scared.

"The last 5 years, I've only been trying to do one thing. Get to right here. To have a chance at bringing everyone back. This is my chance."

"That's a very obnoxious hero-y thing to say."

"You think I want to do it? I'm trying to save your life, you idiot."

"Well, what if I don't want you to, huh?"

"What about (y/n)?" She throw back, making Clint hesitant. "What about the baby you two are going to have? You just going to leave them?"

"We won't have a baby if we don't get that stone." He argues back, though it's a weak argument. She can tell she's backed him into a corner.

"You will. I'll get you that stone and a second chance at life. Consider it a baby shower gift." She jokes, tears coming to her eyes. Clint looks back up at her, his eyes misting.

"I don't deserve a second chance, Natasha. You know what I've done. What I've become." His eyes flashing with guilt, and through the building tears, she could have sworn she saw Ronin in them as some memory flashes through his mind.

"Well, I don't judge people on their worst mistakes." Her voice is gentle.

"Maybe you should." He chokes out, making Natasha smile the slightest bit. A sad smile.